Project type                                                                                Sustainable food system

After signing a Memorandum of Understanding in 2014, the City of Milan in partnership with the Cariplo Foundation, developed The Milan Food Policy. This policy is the result of growing awareness among relevant actors and civil society of the challenges presented by climate change and the need for responsible management of resources.

The initiative actively contributes to improving the health and well-being of citizens and is based on an integrated cross-sectoral approach between public agencies, social organizations, and the private sector.

The Food Policy is being scaled using a holistic approach while stimulating local awareness, building public-private partnerships, and aligning municipal policies to SDG indicators.

The project is growing and has approximately 40 ongoing initiatives including:
1. A reduction on waste tax for businesses who donate food waste to charities who then distribute the food to people in need, was introduced.
2. As a pilot project, The Food Policy connected the school canteens public procurement system with the supply chain of rice produced by farmers of the Agricultural District of Milan (180 tons/year for a value of € 300,000/year). The result of this experience has increased scalability by including a further 19 horticultural farms in the school canteens public procurement system.

In parallel to the Food Policy, the City of Milan established an international pact on urban food policies – Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP). MUFPP involves 175 cities around the world and an advisory group of international institutions and foundations. Shared goals have been identified, with respect to what steps each signatory city undertakes according to its abilities, possibilities and availability.

Milan, as the first Italian city to research food issues and consequently implement its urban Food Policy, encourage local authorities of the metropolitan area to follow the example of Milan in working toward a more sustainable approach to their food systems.

The project facilitates the exchange of knowledge through community, local organization and international partners. The City of Milan collaborates with other international organizations, including Eurocities, European Commission, C40.